Releasable joinder lock



Aug. 1, 1944.

M. I. WILLIAMSON 2,354,726

RELEASABLE JOINDER LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19, 1942 INVENTOR Marshall I. Wi |iams on Aug. 1, 1944. M. 1. WILLIAMSON RELEASABLE JOINDER LOCK 2 sheetssheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1942 I l l 25a "*"IIIII I INVENTOR' Mars all LiWi liamson Patented Aug. 1, 1944 RELEASABLE J OINDER LOCK Marshall I. Williamson, New York, N. Y., assignor to Wedglok Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 19, 1942, Serial No. 458,927 5 Claims. (01. 229-84) This invention relates to tongue and slit joinders in sheet materials, and particularly to tongue and slit releasable closure locks for wrappers, envelopes, boxes, and like containers formed of sheet paper board or similar material. 7

The invention is closely related to that disclosed in copending application, Serial Number 458,498, filed September 16, 1942, jointly by myself and W. A. Ringler, and entitled Joinder in sheet materials.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a joinder of the nature disclosed in the stated copending application Serial Number 458,- 498, which will be secure and tight and function nicely as a closure lock for containers of the character stated, but which can be very easily unlocked and opened as desired, and re-closed and re-locked thereafter.

A principal feature in the accomplishment of the above object resides in the provision of a movable member for the tongue element including a tab end protruding exteriorly of the joinder, and which is adapted, when such protruding tab end is grasped and pulled, to ride over the interlocking shoulder means of the tongue element, thus depressing such shoulder means and breaking the interlocking engagement thereof with its cooperating edge of the slit element.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view, looking from above, of a Wrapper embodying a preferred form of the invention as a releasable J'oinder lock for the closure panels;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary detail view of the lower closure panel of the wrapper of Fig. 1 subsequent to the release of the Joinder lock and the opening of the closure;

Fig. 3', an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the locked releasable joinder lock of Fig. 1 in inside or bottom plan;

Fig. 3a, a section taken on the line 3a-3a of Fi 3;

Fig. 3b, a section taken on the line 3b-3b of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 4, a view similar to that of Fig. 3, but taken at an intermediate stage of the releasing or unlocking procedure, the view showing how the interlocking shoulder means of the interengaging tongue element is flattened out within the slit element by the release flap;

Fig. 5, an inside plan view considerably rebut illustrating a somewhat different form of joinder lock pursuant to the invention;

Fig. 8, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 6. but illustrating the tongue-forming portion of the blank used to form the embodiment of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9, a view corresponding to that of Fig. 7,

but illustrating another embodiment of joinder lock pursuant to the invention; 7

Fig. 10, a fragmentary detail view of the tongue-receiving slit element per se of the J'oinder lock illustrated in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11, a view similar to that of Fig. 10, but illustrating the slit-element-forming portion of the cut and scored blank used to form the embodiment of Fig. 9, before it is folded into the position shown in Fig. 10.

The invention is here illustrated as embodied in a mailing wrapper for magazines or the like. In the embodiment of Figs. 1 through 6, the two oppositely extending closure panels In and II, respectively, of the wrapper possess the j'oinder elements of the invention, and lock together as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The wrapper is advantageously folded to final form from a prepared blank, see Fig. 5, cut and scored to provide the bottom wall panel I2, having the closure panels I0 and II extending there from, as well as the closure supporting flaps I3 and I4, respectively. Each of the closure panels and each of the closure supporting flaps is separated from the bottom panel I2 by one of he four side wall panels I5.

As blanked out at the free end of closure panel ID, the tongue element I6 comprises a base part II, and mutually similar parts I8 and I8 extending from opposite lateral sides of base part I1 and foldable, on the biased score lines I9 and I9, into superimposed positions upon such base part, so that edges thereof extend along the base line 20, substantially in coincidence therewith, see Fig. 3, and provide shoulder means 2|. A part 22 extends from base part I1, between the laterally extending parts I8 and I8, and a plurality of mutually spaced and mutually parallel score lines, here three, provide a zone 23 for the folding of such part 22 over upon the in-folded parts I8 and I8 and the base part I1, and for the allowing of limited movement of such part 22 back and forth lengthwise, relative to the other parts, when folded.

The part 22 includes a tab end 2211 set between laterally extending ears 22b and 22b, and functions as a release or unlocking member for the j cinder look.

A slit 24 is provided in the closure panel I adjacent but spaced apart from the tongue baseline for receiving the tab end 22a and allowing it to protrude outside the wrapper, see Figs. 1 and 2, when the tongue is completely folded and assembled per se.

The joinder look, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is attained by inserting the completely folded and assembled tongue element 16 within the tonguereceiving slit element (formed through and adjacent the free end of closure panel ii) until.

the shoulder means 2| of such tongue element parts 58' and I8 for increasing the effective thickness of the shoulder means 2| by reason of the newly formed longitudinal lines of resiliency which extend along the longitudinal fol-d lines 3| and 3!. Such shoulder means 2i is here coincident with such longitudinal lines of resilience. Such tongue parts and 30 considerably increase the resilient urge of tongue parts 18 and I8 from theplane of tongue base part: l1,; and, in addi tion to increasing the effective thickness of the shoulder means 2|, strongly urges the laterally extending ears 22b" and 22b of release or unlocking member 22' away from tongue base part 51',

clicks past that defining edge 25a of the slit element 25 which lies farthest fromthe tip I60.

of the tongue element, whereby such tongue element is tightly interlocked with such slit element,

the unlocking member 22, with its laterally ex-' tending ears 22b, 22b and. its tab end 22a, being in the position-illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, effectively holding the folded and superimposed tongueparts l8 and [8 in folded condition against their natural resilient urge from the plane of tongue base part l1, and standing ready for its unlocking function. It should be noted that, in this locked position of the tongue element 5, the edges la and Illa of the closurepanel In, which extend from the base of such tongue element in substantially rectilinear alignment with the base-line 20 thereof, abut against the closure panel I l at either end of the slit element 25, and, thus, add rigidity to the joinder and guard against lateral movement of one of the closure panels relative to the other.

The joinder lock is released or unlocked very easily by the mere grasping of 'the protruding tab end'22a and'by the pulling of the same forward, as indicated by the applied instructions of Fig. 1. Thereby, the laterally extending ears 22b and 22b ofthe unlocking member 22 are pulled forwardly over" the folded and superimposed tongue parts I8 and l8, pressing the shoulder means 2| into the plane of tongue base part. I1, and effectively accomplishing releaseof the abutting engagement of 'such shoulder means withethefdefining edge 25a of the slit element, see Fig. 4.. j

indicated by Fig. 2, the tongue element It may be placed in condition for re.insertion withinislit'element 25 by merely pushing the tab end 2.2a into itsoriginal position, thereby placing all of the tongue parts into substantially their original positions. ,Re-insertion will, accordingly, ef-,

f'ect re-locking of the closure.

1 The embodiments of releasable joinder locks illustrated in Figs. '7 through 11 are essentially similar to the above-described embodiment, and, therefore, like parts thereof will be indicated by corresponding reference characters, primed. Since'the construction and operation of most parts of the several illustrated embodiments are substantially identical no lengthy explanation is added to What has already been given. It will sufiice to point out the differences in construction between the several embodiments, andexplain the effect thereof.

The embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 adds tongue parts 3i! and 30, extending from the shoulderforming edges of tongue parts l8 and I8 being, in effect, merely additional width for such tongue parts [8' and I8 and foldable, on the longitudinal dividing score lines 3| and 3!, respectively, into superimposed positions on suchtongue so that, until actuated by the pulling of tab end 22a in the unlocking operation, such ears 22b and 22b aid materially in keeping the joinder tightly locked by reason of their abutment against 'the defining edge 25a of slit element 25.

The embodiment of Figs. 9, l0 and 11 accomplishes approximately the same results as the immediately prior embodiment, by adding to the tongue-receiving slit element rather than to the tongue element; Here, an extra length 35 is added.

tongue-receiving slit element 25 seeFigJlO. It.

isformed with a short tab 356; extending centrally from its free end, and is heldfin its fold and superimposed position by ins'ertion of such tab.35a within the tongue-receiving slit element 25. The resulting bulged-end of closure panel.

ll bows the defining edge 25a of tongue-receiving slit element 25 so that it provides a more positive abutment for the shoulder means 2|, and, therefore, a more positive interlocking of tongue and slit elements; 7

In the last two embodiments, that is, in the embodiments of Figs. '7 and 8,'and of Figs. 9, 10 and 11, respectively, the tab extension 22a, of release or unlocking member ,22'...may, advantageously, be made slightly longer than the tab extension 22a' of the embodimentof Figs. 1 throughv 6, 'as illustrated, for accommodating the extra bulge of tongue element and slitelement, re-, spectively'.

Whereas this invention is'here described with,

respect to certain preferred specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various.

changes may be made in such certain specific embodiments, and that various other embodiments may be constructed, by those skilled in thelart without departing from the spirit and generic purview of the invention asset forth herein and in theclaims that here follow. 1.

I claim: 1. An easily releasable joinder lock inrelatively stiff but flexible and resilient sheet material, comprising a-tongue element and a tongue-re ceiving slit element, said tongue element having resiliently raised shoulder means which engages that defining edge ofsaid slit element which-lies farthest from thetip of .saidftongue element in interlocking abutting rel ationshi p,means stand-' ing ready'to depress said shoulder means out of its said interlocking abutting relationshipfa'nd tab means secured to and extending from said.- shoulder-depressing means to a location removed" from the said joinderlock, said tab means being adapted to effect, when pulled; movement of said, shoulder-depressing means fo'r. depressing saidl shoulder means.

2. An easily releasable joinder ioek m relatively stiff but fiexibleand resilient]sheet material' comprising, a tongue element formed b folding part" of said sheet material upon itself, the said folded part being freely superimposed on the'base part of said. tongue element and comprising substantially' oppositely directed parts which extend from Opposite lateral sides of said tongue base part and are infolded upon said base part, and a relatively wide part which extendsfrom between said oppositely directed parts and is folded over upon said oppositely directed parts as infolded upon said tongue base part, edge portions of said oppositely directed and infolded parts forming raised shoulder 'means due to the resiliency of said sheet material, said shoulder means extending transversely of the length of the said tongue element, said relatively wide part having a relatively narrow tab extension, a tabreceiving slit formed through said sheet material adjacent but spaced apart from and substantially parallel with said raised shoulder means, said tab extension of said relatively wide part being inserted within and passing through said slit to the reverse face of said sheet material; and a tongue-receiving slit element formed in said sheet material, said slit element having a length substantially equal to thewidth of said tongue element at the location of said shoulder means and being adapted to receive said tongue element in interengaging and interlocking relationship, said tongue element being inserted within said slit element so that the said shoulder means engages in interlocking abutting relationship with that defining edge of said slit element which lies farthest from the tip of said tongue element, said tab extension being available for grasping and pulling in the unlocking of said joinder lock, pulling of said tab extension causing said relatively wide part to pass over said shoulder means and depress the same out of its said interlocking abutting relationship with the said defining edge of said slit element.

3. An easily releasable joinder lock in sheet paperboard material comprising, a tongue element formed by folding part of said sheet material upon itself, the said folded part being freely superimposed on the base part of said tongueelement and comprising substantially oppositely directed parts which extend from opposite lateral sides of said tongue base part and are infolded upon said base part, and a relatively wide part which extends from between said oppositely directed parts and is folded over upon said oppositely directed parts as infolded upon said tongue base part, said relatively wide part being divided from said tongue base part by and being folded on a plurality of closely spaced and mutually parallel score lines, edge portions of said oppositely directed and infolded parts forming raised shoulder means due to the resiliency of said sheet material, said shoulder means extending transversely of the length of the said tongue element, said relatively wide part having a relatively narrow tab extension, a tab-receiving slit formed through said sheet material adjacent but spaced apart from and substantially parallel with said raised shoulder means, said tab extension of said relatively wide part being inserted within and passing through said slit to the reverse face of said sheet material; and a tongue-receiving slit element formed in said sheet material, said slit element having a length substantially equal to the width of said tongue element at the location of said shoulder means and being adapted to receive said tongue element in interengaging and interlocking relationship, said tongue element being inserted within said slit element -so thati the said shoulder means engages in interlocking abutting relationship with that defining edge" of said slit element which lies farthest from the tip of said tongue element, said tab extension being available for grasping and pulling in the unlocking of said joinder lock, pulling of said tab extension causing said relatively wide part'to pass over said shoulder means and depress the same out of its said interlocking abutting relationship with the said defining edge of said slit element.

4. An easily releasable joinder lock in reicw tively stiff but flexible and resilient sheet material comprising, a tongue element formed by fold-'- ing part of said sheet material upon itself, the said folded part being freely superimposed on the base part of said tongue element and comprising substantially oppositely directed parts which extend from opposite lateral sides of said tongue base part and are infolded upon said base part, and a relatively wide part which extends from between said oppositely directed parts and is folded over upon said oppositely directed parts as infolded upon said tongue base part, edge portions of said oppositely directed and infolded parts forming raised shoulder means due to the resiliency of said sheet material, each of said oppositely directed parts being folded upon itself longitudinally to provide a longitudinal line of resiliency substantially coincident with said shoulder means and effective in the raising thereof, said shoulder means extending transversely of the length of the said tongue element, said relatively wide part having a relatively narrow tab extension, a tab-receiving slit formed through said sheet material adjacent but spaced apart from and substantially parallel with said raised shoulder means, said tab extension of said rela tively wide part being inserted within and passing through said slit to the reverse face of said sheet material; and a tongue-receiving slit element formed in said sheet material, said slit element having a length substantially equal to the width of said tongue element at the location of said shoulder means and being adapted to receive said tongue element in interengaging and interlocking relationship, said tongue element being inserted within said slit element so that the said shoulder means engages in interlocking abutting relationship with that defining edge of said slit element which lies farthest from the tip of said tongue element, said tab extension being available for grasping and pulling in the unlocking of said joinder lock, pulling of said tab extension causing said relatively wide part to pass over said shoulder means and depress the same out of its said interlocking abutting relationship with the said defining edge of said slit element.

5. An easily releasable joinder lock in relatively stiff but flexible and resilient sheet material comprising, a tongue element formed by folding part of said sheet material upon itself, the said folded part being freely superimposed on the base part of said tongue element and comprising substantially oppositely directed parts which extend from opposite lateral sides of said tongue base part and are infolded upon said base part, and a relatively Wide part which extends from between said oppositely directed parts and is folded over upon said oppositely directed parts as infolded upon said tongue base part, edge portions of said oppositely directed and infolded parts forming raised shoulder means due to the resiliency of said sheet material, said shoulder means extending transversely of the length of the said tongue element, said relatively wide part having a relatively narrow tab extension, a tab-receiving slit formed through said sheet material adjacent but spaced apart from and substantially parallel with said raised shoulder means, said tab extension of said relatively wide part being inserted Within and passing through said slit to the reverse face of said sheet material; and a tongueereceiving slit element formed in said sheet material, adjacent an end thereof, said slit element having a length substantially equal to the width of said tongue element at the location of said shoulder means and being adapted to receive said tongue element in interengaging and interlocking relationship, the said end of said sheet material being folded freely upon itself and secured at said slit element providing a resilient bulge between said slit element and the adjacent end of said sheet materiaLsaid tongue element being inserted Within said slit element so that the said shoulder means engages in interlocking abutting relationship with that defining edge of said slit element which lies farthest from the tip of said tongue element, said tab extension being available for grasping and pulling in the unlocking of said joinder lock, pulling of said tab extension causing said relatively wide part to pass over said shoulder means and depress the same out of its said interlocking abutting relationship with the said defining edge of said slit element. MARSHALL I. WILLIAMSON. 

